County News Online wants
your thoughts and observations about the Great Darke County Fair. Send
them to the editorhere.

You'd be hard pressed to find a seventeen year old who's not excited
for the Great Darke County Fair. Granted, I am not that teenager... the
fair loses its luster after so many years, don't you think?

I can remember when I was really young - my dad brought home a
life-sized stuffed tiger through one of the many games. I don't
particularly remember that year at fair, or the game, but I remember
the tiger.

Later on, there was a game where you could win Ty Beanie Babies. They'd
always been a favorite of mine (and some will probably always be,
whether I'm young or old). We had loitered around the tent in hopes of
winning the Fetcher the retriever, Hodge-Podge the randomly colored
dog, or maybe that Kooky bird...

And then in the early teens - I walked out of the fair with a gigantic
Spongebob plushie to call my own. I can remember how I felt carrying
around the big overstuffed prize with my companions at the fair. Good
memories, good memories...

It's all fun and good when you're young.

Or, maybe, considering my standpoint here, I should say younger. Once
you grow out of the stuffed animal stage, unless you have little ones
of your own, most of the games are pointless to play. Bragging rights
are always up for grabs - "Oh, I popped more balloons than you did!" or
maybe "Look at my little stuffed dog, don't you wish you had one?"

... But it's not something I would want to brag over.

Not to say that all games are bad. There are some prizes that can be
won that are for the teens and up - scooters, blankets, pillows, even
money. I'm not dissing on the games at all; they're quite enjoyable for
the younger people (and the young at heart). I'll be playing... but not
for the average stuffed dog.

There are also the rides. These are more diverse for ages, fun for all.
So, maybe not the Merry-Go-Round for a 27 year old, and not Pharoah's
Fury for a toddler, but you understand. Brave of heart fairgoers are
treated to their thrill, while the more laid back can chill out on the
slow moving ones. You won't find me on the Screamer, that's for sure,
but look for me at the top of the Ferris Wheel...

Entertainment is great, too. The bands at the gazebo, the concert, the
people. You could be amused by just walking around the fairgrounds for
an hour or so, and that's what makes the Darke County Fair so great.
Even if you don't fancy the games, or the food, you can almost always
be sure to find some sort of laugh waiting for you through the hustle
and bustle.

But, why do I say alas? All I've mentioned is good. It's praise. And I
do praise the fair - I won't be staying at home, for sure.

I say alas because fair time reminds me that school is just around the
corner. This is my Senior year, so I shouldn't complain, but school is
school. Fair time reminds me that I have summer homework that I need to
be finishing up, but who's motivated to work on school material when
you could be on a helicopter ride over the fairgrounds? I say alas
because it's back to 9 - 5 (7:45 - 2:45, actually) in workbooks and
information. It's losing our freedom to sleep until... until 3 p.m. the
next day if you so wished.

It's reminding us Homecoming is just around the corner, that we better
gear up the football team, go shopping, and find a date for the dance.

It's reminding us that Christmas will be here soon - count your pennies
and save them; you're going to need them for Christmas shopping this
year.

It's reminding us that 2011 is drawing to a close, that New Year's will
be here soon, and that 2012 will be greeting us all too soon.

I'd love to hear anyone's
account on the fair - a good memory, a bad memory, something you miss,
something you want, why you like/dislike the fair... It's open for
conversation, so why not write a short article for us here at CNO? You
have my opinion - now I would like to hear yours. To send YOUR
thoughts, clickhere.